Kim Novel Review - Book Report/Review Example

Task Kim Novel Review Introduction Rudyard Kipling explores a significant relation between Britain and the entire Asian community. The novel is relevant to the current society because it highlights certain political aspects. For example, the novel reveals India’s population and religion. This is significant because it facilitates the understanding of several political occurrences. What is the story about? The story is about an orphan who loses his parents to extreme poverty. Rudyard Kipling creates his protagonist as bi-racial to explore the vulnerability that such people can endure. The novel begins when this 13 year old protagonist, Kim, lives a hopeless life because he does not have a home. Throughout the novel, the author makes the reader admire the orphan who struggles to fit in the white community. This is because the orphan has exemplary qualities for his age. He carries sensitive documents with him and works for his survival, even when one appreciates he is a child (Kipling 18). The author introduces a symbolic journey in which the protagonist undergoes several transformations. During the journey, the orphan in the narration undergoes certain training that shapes his understanding of the world. Kim becomes a disciple who is keen and learns several aspects of life in this symbolic journey (Kipling 28). The struggles do not last for long for Kim because a friend of his dead father identifies him. The identification is possible through the sensitive documents that Kim carries with him. This facilitates his enrolment to a prestigious school. He does not stop his adventurous behavior while at school. Instead, he affirms that that he can be a good spy and later gets a job for himself. His job leads him to several dangerous places but his resilience facilitates his continuous survival (Kipling 99). What is the Great Game? The “Great Game” is the display of enmity between Russia and Britain. It is called a game because the two nations seemed to be fighting for superiority in India. The intensity of spying between Russia and Britain proves that it was a game. Kim was a chief player in this game that involved a lot of spying. Throughout the novel, Rudyard Kipling reveals the fascinating activities of the “great game.” The 12th chapter of this novel is a significant revelation of the activities of the great game. For example, in this chapter, Kim suggests to his other accomplices that they should go to the woman of Shamlegh for camouflage. This woman transforms them to different people and in turn makes their spying endeavor successful. In another instance, Kim pays the prostitute of Lucknow to transform him because he needed to remain mysterious for success in being an intelligent officer. Almost all the characters in this novel by Rudyard Kipling are spies. This proves that the centre of the novel is on the “great game”. Rudyard Kipling uses this great game to develop all his characters. The “great game” allows the readership of this novel to monitor the growth of the protagonist. At the end of the novel, there is a dilemma because Kim seems to be undecided. Kim is uncertain whether to follow the “great game” or his spiritual journey (Kipling 59). Other significant participants in this game include E 2.3 who works for the British and Lurgan Sahib who is an exemplary spy. Huneefa is a sorcerer who performs magic that is aimed to protect Kim. This act makes “the great game” appear to be extremely dangerous. Kim reports to Huree Chunder Mookherjee who intensifies the mystery of the “great game” because of his experience (Kipling 79). Are there several levels of meaning in the novel? This novel reveals several levels of meaning in its narration and selection of characters. First, the novel portrays a general meaning that highlights the nature of most human beings. The author of this book seems to suggest that human beings can be loyal and devoted to their work. Kim displays an admirable level of devotion to his work. The spies in this novel are devoted; some of them die while working for their respective nations. During his spying training, Kim is warned that when he dies his name would be forgotten regardless of the intensity of his contribution (Kipling 69). The introduction of the spying phenomenon is symbolic because it seems to represent other deep aspects of human life. Rudyard Kipling centers his novel on spying but wishes his readership to understand what human beings can do. Nations can spy on each other and kill the respective spies of their respective enemies. This suggests that people lose value for human life and display extreme selfishness because of ideas that are not significant (Kipling 64). The novel also reveals a basic meaning that includes general descriptions of India. One would imagine that Rudyard Kipling struggles in his descriptions of various places in India to explain certain modern occurrences. For example, he sets his novel at a time when India was colonized. This suggests that the narration tells his readership that Indians are strong people who survived colonization (Kipling 49). What is the authors attitude to the government of the British Raj? Rudyard Kipling reveals his attitude towards the above governments using his protagonist. Kim takes a symbolic journey (with the lama) that enables him to understand India. Rudyard Kipling resents the government of the British in India through his focus on the effects on the governance. Some bits of his narration could seem as if they were praising the British Raj government. This is not true because Rudyard Kipling supports the Russian in their fight against the Britons. The author dislikes this government because he presents his characters that represent the British Raj in a negative manner (Kipling 53). How does the author see human nature? Rudyard Kipling explores diverse aspects of human nature in his entire narration. First, he reveals that there is always a spiritual aspect in every human being. He seems to prefer the practice of Buddhism in India. According to him, the nature of human beings makes them identify with the religion that they believe is superior. For example, Kim chooses to follow the Buddhist Lama probably because he believes that the best religion for him (Kipling 47). The author believes that the human nature is cunning and will always lie to get its way. This is because Rudyard Kipling makes all his significant characters to be spies. Apart from Kim other characters, for example, Mahbub Ali are spies. Ali pretends to be an equestrian but collaborates with Colonel Creighton in spying. Ali introduces Kim to spying because he gives Kim his first sensitive spying task (Kipling 38). Rudyard Kipling also believes that human nature depends on each other. In his entire narration, he seems to suggest that human beings cannot live alone because of their respective natures. For example, he indicates that both Kim and the lama need each other because they are human. It might appear as if the lama is superior but he needs Kim. Nations need spies who will provide information that will be used to protect their countries. The general relation of characters in the novel by Rudyard Kipling suggests that human nature is dependant. Kim loses his parents but still gets a guardian who is irresponsible but still exists (Kipling 14). What does the novel tell you about the requirements of being an expert intelligence officer, a spy? In the novel, the author suggests that one must undergo sufficient training before attaining proper intellect. The protagonist in the novel becomes a scout at an early age. This shapes his intellect in the spying field because it allows him to experience relevant adventures. Apart from this, he attends catholic college education (Kipling 73). Expert intelligence officers also need to have spirituality to enable them focus on the tasks that they are supposed to handle. For example, the protagonist serves as a disciple who is loyal to his master. This is because after his identification and being taken to an acknowledged college he still goes back to his master. This loyalty is necessary for experts in spying because it creates intense levels of trust between the intelligence officers (Kipling 84). In what ways does Kim exemplify the requisites of being a good spy? Kim displays exemplary levels of perfect discipline to the reader. He ensures that throughout the novel, he uses his spirituality to remain clean. For example, Kim dismisses every woman who seems to derail him from his work. This is a requisite for a perfect spy because of several reasons. First, it allows spies to focus on their respective targets throughout the novel. The focus is necessary because it prevents these spies from encountering barriers in the execution of their tasks. Women who are wicked normally derail men from their focus by their respective sexual seductions (Kipling 60). The struggles that Kim endures in his life later on help him to become an outstanding spy. For example, his guardian is constantly on opium and forces Kim to care for himself at an early age. Kim’s childhood facilitates his superior inquisitive skills. This allows him to master almost all the directions in the place that he lives. He is a good spy because he does not require additional help with directions. This makes it extremely easy for him to be a desirable spy because of the efficiency he has in tracking his victims (Kipling 73). Kim does not give up during any spying task that he is given. For example, after mastering the conditions of the “the great game” Kim is sent on a sensitive mission to the British enemies. He is late, and finds the other spy dead. This does not stop him from pursuing the mission because he does not go back after the death discovery. Instead, he continues spying while in the middle of the British territory because he was courageous. Even when the Britons discover his existence, Kim fights against them and finally registers a remarkable victory (Kipling 98). Conclusion Rudyard Kipling does an amazing job in this novel because of the significant revelations about India that he makes. The novel is useful to both children and their parents because of its historical richness. Spies should not compromise their humanity in their undertaking of respective spy duties. Instead, they should display decency while they remain loyal to their superiors. Work Cited Top of Form Rudyard, Kipling. Kim. Boston: MobileReference.com, 2008.Web. 2 September 2012 Bottom of Form Read More